There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4: 4-6)
At times, Christians of all stripes tend to highlight their differences from other Christians, normally in a way that makes their particular brand look good. And I get it. There is a natural, human if you will, competition between Christians (i.e. my "brand" is really great and therefore I like it better than your "brand").
That said, in the end, our Christian squabbles are intramural skirmishes. We are all on the SAME team. As Paul writes, "There is one body and one Spirit."
And the defining marks of our Christian life, regardless of "brand", are the deepest common denominator of denominations.
One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father of all.
You and I may disagree about ecclesiastical polity, Eucharistic practice, or doctrinal emphasis. We may significantly disagree about the role of women in the church, LGBT leadership, or what a faithful Christian response in Israel looks like. We may disagree about Biblical interpretation, worship style, or even the color of the carpet in the sanctuary.
Regardless, at the end of the day ... One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father of all.
Let us remember what unites us even as we live with what divides us. For in the end it is the there is One body and One spirit. Amen.
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